EXERCISES & PROBLEMS 621

;t. (b)
31b if
EXERCISES & PROBLEMS
'es. If
SECTION 25-2 Electric Potential 7E. In the Millikan oil-drop experiment (see Section 23-8), a
~, are
n the unifonn electric field of 1.92 X 105 N/C is maintained in the
IE. The electric potential difference between the ground and a
work region between two plates separated by 1.50 cm. Find the poten-
cloudin a particular thunderstonn is 1.2 X 109 V. What is the
1, and tial difference between the plates.
magnitudeof the change in the electric potential energy (in multi-
to (a) plesof the electron-volt) of an electron that moves between the 8E. Two large parallel conducting plates are 12 cm apart and
? groundand the cloud? have charges of equal magnitude and opposite sign on their facing
surfaces. An electrostatic force of 3.9 X 10-15 N acts on an elec-

-
2E. A particular 12 V car battery can send a total charge of 84
tron placed anywhere between the two plates. (Neglect fringing.)
A·h(ampere-hours) through a circuit, from one tenninal to the
D
(a) Find the electric field at the position of the electron. (b) What
other.(a) How many coulombs of charge does this represent? (b)
is the potential difference between the plates?
[fthisentire charge undergoes a potential difference of 12 V, how
muchenergy is involved? 9E. An infinite nonconducting sheet has a surface charge density
done a = 0.10 p..C/m2 on one side. How far apart are equipotential
3P. In a given lightning flash, the potential difference between a
omA cloudand the ground is 1.0 X 109 V and the quantity of charge surfaces whose potentials differ by 50 V?
loves transferredis 30 C. (a) What is the change in energy of that trans- lOP. Figure 25-35 shows, edge-on, an infinite nonconducting
'orce, ferredcharge? (b) If all the energy released by the transfer could sheet with positive surface charge density aon one side. (a) How
beusedto accelerate a 1000 kg automobile from rest, what would much work is done by the electric field of the sheet as a small
laller bethe automobile's final speed? (c) If the energy could be used to positive test charge qo is moved from an initial position on the
[mo- meltice, how much ice would it melt at DOC?The heat of fusion sheet to a final position located a perpendicular distance z from
ce 'of ofice is 3.33 X 105 J/kg. the sheet? (b) Use Eq. 25-18 and the result from (a) to show that
force the electric potential of an infinite sheet of charge can be written
V = Vo - (aI2~0)Z, where is the electric potential at the sur-
SECTION 25-4 Calculating the Potential face of the sheet. qo
:ntial from the Field
over
over 4E. Two infinite lines of charge are parallel to and in the same
large planewith the z axis. One, of charge per unit length + A, is a
distancea to the right of this axis. The other, of charge per unit FIGURE 25-35 Problem 10.
length- A, is a distance a to the left of this axis. Sketch some of
I are theequipotential surfaces due to this arrangement.
ide a UP. A Geiger counter has a metal cylinder 2.00 cm in diameter
SE. In Fig. 25-33, three long parallel lines of charge, with the along whose axis is stretched a wire 1.30 X 10-4 cm in diameter.
n the
relativelinear charge densities shown, extend perpendicular to If the potential difference between them is 850 V, what is the
thepage in both directions. Sketch some electric field lines; also electric field at the surface of (a) the wire and (b) the cylinder?
;ect? sketchthe cross sections in the plane of the figure of some equi- (Hint: Use the result of Problem 29 of Chapter 24.)
potentialsurfaces. -2.1..

ldius
II C,
ance
• ..•12P. The electric field inside a nonconducting sphere of radius
R, with charge spread uniformly throughout its volume, is radi-
ally directed and has magnitUde

19 to E(r)=~.
47T~oR3
ctric
tude
Ie at
FIGURE 25-33
•
+.1..

6E. When an electron moves from A to B along an electric field

Here q (positive or negative) is the total charge in the sphere, and
r is the distance from the sphere center. (a) Taking V = 0 at the
center of the sphere, find the potential VCr) inside the sphere. (b)
linein Fig. 25-34, the electric field does 3.94 X 10-19 J of work What is the difference in electric potential between a point on the
~t to
onit. What are the electric potential differences (a) VB - VA' (b) surface and the sphere's center? (c) If q is positive, which of those
Vc - VA' and (c) Vc - VB? Electric two points is at the higher potential?
arge

~V;r\~rru"
13P*. A charge q is distributed unifonnly throughout a spherical
tion volume of radius R. (a) Setting V = 0 at infinity, show that the
arti- potential at a distance r from the center, where r < R, is given by
[etic
d to
"GU~ 25-~ Exooc", 6.
ms?
622 CHAPTER 25 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
(Hint: See Sample Problem 24-7.) (b) Why does this result differ
from that in (a) of Problem 12? (c) What is the potential differ-
ence between a point on the surface and the sphere's center? (d)
Why doesn't this result differ from that of (b) of Problem 12?
14P*. A thick spherical shell of charge Q and uniform volume
charge density p is bounded by radii rl and TZ' where TZ> rl.
With V = 0 at infinity, find the electric potential Vas a function
of the distance r from the center of the distribution, considering
the regions (a) r> TZ, (b) T2> r> Tl' and (c) r < rl. (d) Do
these solutions agree at r = rz and r = Tl? (Hint: See Sample
Problem 24-7.)
SECTION 25-6 Potential Due to
a Group of Point Charges
15E. Consider a point charge q = 1.0 /LC, point A at distance
dl = 2.0 m from q, and point B at distance dz = 1.0 m. (a) If
these points are diametrically opposite each other, as in Fig. 25-
36a, what is the electric potential difference VA - VB? (b) What
is that electric potential difference if points A and B are located as
in Fig. 25-36b? B
• 25P. What are (a) the charge and (b) the· charge density onthe
I
d2
•
A
~
q
d)
(a) (b)
FIGURE 25-36 Exercise 15.
16E. Consider a point charge q = 1.5 X 10-8 C, and take V =
o at infinity.(a) What are the shape and dimensions of an equipo-
tential surface having a potential of 30 V due to q alone? (b) Are
surfaces whose potentials differ by a constant amount (1.0 V,
say) evenly spaced?
17E. A charge of 1.50 X 10-8 C lies on an isolated metal sphere
of radius 16.0 cm. With V = 0 at infinity, what is the electric
potential at points on the sphere's surface?
18E. As a space shuttle moves through the dilute ionized gas of
Earth's ionosphere, its potential is typically changed by -1.0 V
during one revolution. By assuming that the shuttle is a sphere of
radius 10 m, estimate the amount of charge it collects.
19E. Much of the material making up Saturn's rings is in the
form of tiny dust grains having radii on the order of 10-6 m.
These grains are located in a region containing a dilute ionized
gas, and they pick up excess electrons. As an approximation,
suppose each grain is spherical, with radius R = 1.0 X 10-6 m.
How many electrons would one grain have to pick up to have a
potential of -400 V on its surface (taking V = 0 at infinity)?
20E. Figure 25-37 shows two charged particles on an axis.
Sketch the electric field lines and the equipotential surfaces in the
plane of the page for (a) ql = +q and q2 = +2q and (b) ql =
+q and q2 = -3q. Y
FIGURE 25-37 ~x
Exercises 20 through 23.
I----d--j
21E. In Fig. 25-37, set V = 0 at infinity and let the particles
have charges ql = +q and qz = - 3q. Then locate (in termsof
the separation distance d) any point on the x axis (other thanat
infinity) at which the net potential due to the two particles is zero.
22E. Let the separation d between the particles in Fig. 25-37 be
1.0 m; let their charges be ql = +q and qz = +2q; and let V = 0
at infinity. Then locate any point on the x axis (other thanat
infinity) at which (a) the net electric potential due to the two
particles is zero and (b) the net electric field due to them is zero.
23E. Two particles of charges ql and qz are separated by dis·
tance d in Fig. 25-37. The net electric field of the particles iszero
at x = d/4. With V = 0 at infinity, locate (in terms of d) any
point on the x axis (other than at infinity) at which the electric
potential due to the two particles is zero.
24E. (a) If an isolated conducting sphere 10 cm in radius hasa
charge of 4.0 /LC, and V = 0 at infinity, what is the potentialon
the surface of the sphere? (b) Can this situation actually occur,
gi ven that the air around the sphere undergoes electrical break·
down when the field exceeds 3.0 MV/m?
surface of a conducting sphere of radius 0.15 m whose potential
is 200 V (with V = 0 at infinity)?
26P. A spherical drop of water carrying a charge of 30 pChasa
•
A
a
potential of 500 Vat its surface (with V = at infinity). (a)What
is the radius of the drop? (b) If two such drops of the same charge
and radius combine to form a single spherical drop, what is the
potential at the surface of the new drop?
27P. An electric field of approximately 100 VIm is oftenob·
served near the surface of Earth. If this were the field overthe
entire surface, what would be the electric potential of a pointon
the surface? (Set V = 0 at in fini ty .)
28P. In Fig. 25-38, what is the net potential at point P duetothe
a
four point charges, if V = at infinity?
•
+5.0q_ d~5.0q
\ Q/
d\ d~5.0q
P~
d
\
+5.0qQ)
FIGURE 25-38 Problem 28.
29P. Suppose that the negative charge in a copper one-centcoin
were removed to a very large distance from Earth - perhapsto
distant galaxy-and that the positive charge were distributed
uniformly over Earth's surface. By how much would the
potential at the surface change? (See Sample Problem 22·4.)
30P. In Fig. 25-39, point P is at the center of the rectangle.
V = 0 at infinity, what is the net electric potential at P due
six charged particles?
 EXERCISES & PROBLEMS 623

les
of
r
+5.0q
d
-2.0q

·G· d-T
-3.0q
SECTION 25-8 Potential Due to a
Continuous Charge Distribution

Ld~d-1
I at
35E. (a) Figure 25-42a shows a positively charged plastic rod of
roo length L and uniform linear charge density A. Setting V = 0 at
be infinity and considering Fig. 25-13 and Eq. 25-35, find the elec-
FIGURE 25-39
= 0 tric potential at point P without written calculation. (b) Figure
Problem 30. +3.0q -2.0q +5.0q
I at 25-42b shows an identical rod, except that it is split in half and
:wo 31P. A point charge ql = +6.0e is fixed at the origin of a rec- the right half is negatively charged; the left and right halves have
:ro. tangular coordinate system, and a second point charge q2 = the same magnitude A of uniform linear charge density. With V
-lOe is fixed at x = 8.6 nm, y = O. The locus of all points in the still zero at infinity, what is the electric potential at point P in Fig.
jis-
xy plane with V = 0 (other than at infinity) is a circle centered on 25-42b?
:ero
thex axis, as shown in Fig. 25-40. Find (a) the location Xc of the
any
center of the circle and (b) the radius R of the circle. (c) Is the xy
:tric
cross section of the 5 V equipotential surface also a circle?
d d
y
as a
V=O
Ion
"W5""'!J"'!lC"""'if-"",,1"',",,",,$ ..lB'$".ilLi '*'W,","*,i$",**.b~4'" ::.j.J
cur, f--- L/2 L/2 ---l f--- L/2 L/2 ---l
eak-
(a) (b)

Ithe
FIGURE 25-40 FIGURE 25-42 Exercise 35.
ntial
Problem 31.
32P. A solid copper sphere whose radius is 1.0 cm has a very 36E. In Fig. 25-43, a plastic rod having a uniformly distributed
las a
thin surface coating of nickel. Some of the nickel atoms are ra- charge - Q has been bent into a circular arc of radius Rand
~hat
dioactive, each atom emitting an electron as it decays. Half of central angle 120°. With V = 0 at infinity, what is the electric
large
theseelectrons enter the copper sphere, each depositing 100 ke V potential at P, the center of curvature of the rod?
s the
of energy there. The other half of the electrons escape, each
carrying away a charge of -e. The nickel coating has an activity /" -Q
lob- of 10 mCi (= 10 millicuries = 3.70 X 108 radioactive decays per
r the second). The sphere is hung from a long, nonconducting string
nt on

.0 the
andisolated from its surroundings. (a) How long will it take for
thepotential of the sphere to increase by 1000 V? (b) How long
willit take for the temperature of the sphere to increase by 5.0 K
p '<20 0

R
~
•

dueto the energy deposited by the electrons? The heat capacity of

thesphere is 14.3 J/K.

FIGURE 25-43 Exercise 36.

SECTION 25-7 Potential Due to an Electric Dipole

33E. The ammonia molecule NH3 has a permanent electric di-

- 37E. A circular plastic rod of radius
pole moment equal to 1.47 D, where 1 D = 1 debye unit =
3.34 X 10-30 C . m. Calculate the electric potential due to an am-
monia molecule at a point 52.0 nm away along the axis of the
dipole. (Set V = 0 at infinity.)
34P. For the charge configuration of Fig. 25-41, show that V(r)
forpoints such as P on the axis, assuming r '> d, is given by
R has a positive charge + Q
uniformly distributed along one-quarter of its circumference and
a negative charge of -6Q uniformly distributed along the rest of
the circumference (Fig. 25-44). With V = 0 at infinity, what is
the electric potential (a) at the center C of the circle and (b) at
point P, which is on the central axis of the circle at a distance z
from the center?

1t coin
V= _1_2.r (1 + 2d).
47TEO r .
ps to a
(Hint: The charge configuration can be viewed as the sum of an z
ibuted
:lectric isolatedcharge and a dipole.)
A.) ~-----------------r------------------~

~. With e-d~-d~I----------------------~p
~ to the -q +q +q

FIGURE 25-41 Problem 34. FIGURE 25-44 Exercise 37.

624 CHAPTER 25 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

38E. A plastic disk is charged on one side with a uniform surface SECTION 25-9 Calculating the Field SOP.
charge density A, and then three quadrants of the disk are re- from the Potential com):
moved. The remaining quadrant is shown in Fig. 25-45. With varia
V = 0 at infinity, what is the potential due to the remaining quad- 43E. Two large parallel metal plates are 1.5 cm apart and have
deter
rant at point P, which is on the central axis of the original disk at a equal but opposite charges on their facing surfaces. Take the po-
tential of the negative plate to be zero. If the potential halfway SIP.
distance z from the original center?
between the plates is then + 5.0 V, what is the electric field in the form
region between the plates? (a) \\
they
44E. In a certain situation, the electric potential varies along the
electl
x axis as shown in the graph of Fig. 25-48. For each of the inter-
,," ~----- vals ab, be, ed, de, ef, fg, and gh, determine the x component of
ponel

the electric field, and then plot Ex versus x. (Ignore behavior at the
interval end points.) SEC
FIGURE 25-45
Exercise 38. ofa

S2E.
separ
39P. Figure 25-46 shows a ring of outer radius R and inner
paten
radius r = 0.200R; the ring has a uniform surface charge density
S3E.
cr. With V = 0 at infinity, find an expression for the electric po-
tential at point P on the central axis of the ring, at a distance d=:
z = 2.00R from the center of the ring. infini
third
must
charg

(J

FIGURE 25-48 Exercise 44.

FIGURE 25-46
Problem 39. 45E. Starting from Eq. 25-30, find the electric field due to a
dipole at a point on the dipole axis.
46E. The electric potential at points in an xy plane is given by
40P. A disk like that of Fig. 25-14 has radius R = 2.20 cm. Its V = (2.0 V/m2)x2 - (3.0 V/m2)y2. What are the magnitude and FIGl.
surface charge density is 1.50 X 10-6 C/m2 from r = 0 to RI2 direction of the electric field at point (3.0 m, 2.0 m)?
and 8.00 X 10-7 Clm2 from r = R!2 to R. (a) What is the total
47E. The electric potential V in the space between two flatpar-
charge on the disk? (b) With V = 0 at infinity, what is the electric
allel plates is given by V = 1500x2, where V is in volts if x, the
potential at a point on the central axis of the disk, at a distance 54E.
distance from one of the plates, is in meters. Calculate the magni-
z = R!2 from the center of the disk?
tude and direction of the electric field at x = 1.3 cm. in thl
4IP. Figure 25-47 shows a plastic rod of length L and uniform +05
48E. Exercise 48 in Chapter 24 deals with Rutherford's calcula-
positive charge Q lying on an x axis. With V = 0 at infinity, find +l.5
tion of the electri<;:field at a distance r from the center of an atom
the electric potential at point Plan the axis, at distance d from one at the
and inside the atom. He also gave the electric potential as
end of the rod.
y
V =
Ze
47TEO
(I 3 +
--;. - 2R
r2 )
2R3 .
SSE.
J. J. '
parts
(a) Show how the expression for the electric field given in Exer- parts.
cise 48 of Chapter 24 follows from the above expression for V. (b) Make:
Why does this expression for V not go to zero as r ~ oo? assun
are bl
I-- d---t-~-- L----;
49P. (a) Using Eq. 25-32, show that the electric potential ata
latera
point at distance z on the central axis of a thin ring of chargeof
FIGURE 25-47 Problems 41, 42, 50, and 51. electl
radius R is
ergy
V= _1_ q result
42P. The plastic rod shown in Fig. 25-47 has length L and a
47TEO -vz2 + R2
suit i
nonuniform linear charge density A = ex, where e is a positive (b) From this result, derive an expression for E at points on the 56E.
constant. With V = 0 at infinity, find the electric potential at ring's axis; compare your result with the calculation of E in Sec- four-I
point Plan the axis, at distance d from one end. tion 23-6. initia
 EXERCISES & PROBLEMS 625

SOP.(a) Use the result of Problem 41 to find the electric field ____
+qa-a -q
componentEx at point PI in Fig. 25-47. (Hint: First substitute the

ave
po-
variablex for the distance d in the result.) (b) Use symmetry to
detenninethe electric field component Ey at PI' I
a
I
a
Nay
the

the
SIP. The plastic rod of length L in Fig. 25-47 has the nonuni-
formlinear charge density A = cx, where c is a positive constant.
(alWith V = 0 at infinity, find the electric potential at point P 2 on
they axis, a distance y from one end. (b) From that result, find the
electricfield component Ey at P2. (c) Why cannot the field com-
Iter-
ponentEx at P2 be found using the result of (a)?
It of
. the
SECfION 25-10 Electric Potential Energy
of a System of Point Charges
52E. (a) What is the electric potential energy of two electrons
separatedby 2.00 nm? (b) If the separation increases, does the
potentialenergy increase or decrease?
S3E. Two charges q = +2.0 j.LC are fixed in space a distance
d = 2.0 cm apart, as shown in Fig. 25-49. (a) With V = 0 at
infinity,what is the electric potential at point C? (b) You bring a
thirdcharge q = +2.0 j.LC from infinity to C. How much work
mustyou do? (c) What is the potential energy U of the three-
chargeconfiguration when the third charge is in place?
C 60P. In the rectangle of Fig. 25-51, the sides have lengths 5.0 cm
FIGURE 25-50
Exercise 56.
La_~
-q +q
57E. In the quark model of fundamental particles, a proton is
composed of three quarks: two' 'up" quarks, each having charge
+2e/3, and one "down" quark, having charge -e/3. Suppose
that the three quarks are equidistant from one another. Take the
distance to be 1.32 X 10-15 m and calculate (a) the potential en-
ergy of the subsystem of two' 'up" quarks and (b) the total elec-
tric potential energy of the three-particle system.
58E. What is the electric potential energy of the charge configu-
ration of Fig. 25-9a? Use the numerical values provided in Sam-
ple Problem 25-4.
59P. Three +0.12 C charges form an equilateral triangle, 1.7 m
on a side. Using energy that is supplied at the rate of 0.83 kW,
how many days would be required to move one of the charges to
the midpoint of the line joining the other two Charges?

i
d/2
and 15 cm, ql = -5.0 j.LC, and q2 = +2.0 j.Lc. With V = 0 at
infinity, what are the electric potentials (a) at comer A and (b) at
comer B? (c) How much work is required to move a third charge
q3 = +3.0 j.LC from B to A along a diagonal ofthe rectangle? (d)
to a
Does this work increase or decrease the electric energy of the
.-d/2~-d/2-.
q q three-Charge system? Is more, less, or the same work required if
n by
q3 is moved along paths that are (e) inside the rectangle but not on
: and fiGURE 25-49 Exercise 53.
a diagonal and (f) outside the rectangle?

par- ql, -IA

:, the I I
I I
agni- 54E. The charges and coordinates of two point charges located
in the xy plane are: ql = +3.0 X 10-6 C, X = + 3.5 cm, y =
FIGURE 25-51
Problem 60.
I
B~ - - - - - - - - - --eq2I

cula- +0.50 cm; and q2 = -4.0 X 10-6 C, X = -2.0 cm, y =

atom + 1.5 cm. How much work must be done to locate these charges
61P. In Fig. 25-52, how much work is required to bring the
attheir given positions, starting from infinite separation?
charge of + 5q in from infinity along the dashed line and place it
5SE. A decade before Einstein published his theory ofrelativity, as shown near the two fixed charges +4q and -2q? Take d =
1. J. Thomson proposed that the electron might consist of small 1.40 cm and q = 1.6 X 10-19 C.
parts and attributed its mass to the electrical interaction of the
Exer- parts. Furthermore, he suggested that the energy equals mc2.
V. (b) Makea rough estimate of the electron mass in the following way:
assume that the electron is composed of three identical parts that
arebrought in from infinity and placed at the vertices of an equi-
I at a
lateral triangle having sides equal to the classical radius of the
'ge of
electron, 2.82 X 10-15 m. (a) Find the total electric potential en-
ergy of this arrangement. (b) Divide by c2 and compare your
result to the accepted electron mass (9.11 X 10-31 kg). (The re-
sultimproves if more parts are assumed.) FIGURE 25-52 Problem 61.
IIIthe 56E. Derive an expression for the work required to set up the
1 Sec- 62P. A particle of positive charge Q is fixed at point P. A second
four-charge configuration of Fig. 25-50, assuming the charges are
particle of mass m and negative charge -q moves at constant
initially infinitely far apart.
speed in a circle of radius '1' centered at P. Derive an expression
626 CHAPTER 25 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL

for the work W that must be done by an external agent on the 7IP. Two electrons are fixed 2.0 cm apart. Another electron is 80P.
second particle to increase the radius of the circle of motion to r2' shot from infinity and comes to rest midway between the two. cente]
What was its initial speed? the ot
63P. Calculate (a) the electric potential established by the nu-
cleus of a hydrogen atom at the average distance of the circulating 72P. Consider an electron on the surface of a uniformly charged ration
electron (r = 5.29 X 10-11 m), (b) the electric potential energy sphere of radius 1.0 cm and total charge 1.6 X 10-15 C. Whatis us to,
of the atom when the electron is at this radius, and (c) the kinetic the escape speed for this electron? That is, what initial speed must spher,
energy of the electron, assuming it to be moving in a circular orbit it have to reach an infinite distance from the sphere and there have infinii
of this radius centered on the nucleus. (d) How much energy is zero kinetic energy? (This escape speed is defined similarly to their,
required to ionize the hydrogen atom (that is, to remove the elec- that in Chapter 14 for escaping the gravitational force, but here 8IP.
tron from the nucleus so that the separation is effectively infi- neglect that force.) 3.0 X
nite)? Express all energies in electron-volts. 73P. An electron is projected with an initial speed of 3.2 X 105 face?
mls directly toward a proton that is fixed in place. If the electron spher
64P. A particle of charge q is kept in a fixed position at a point
is initially a great distance from the proton, at what distance from has tl
P, and a second particle of mass m and the same charge q is
initially held a distance rl from P. The second particle is then the proton is the speed of the electron instantaneously equal to 82P.
released. Determine its speed when it is a distance r2 from P. Let twice the initial value? RI an
q = 3.1 Jl.-C, m = 20 mg, rl = 0.90 mm, and r2 = 2.5 mm. expre
of thl
65P. A charge of -9.0 nC is uniformly distributed around a ring SECTION 25-11 Potential of
RI=
of radius 1.5 m that lies in the yz plane with its center at the a Charged Isolated Conductor
origin. A point charge of -6.0 pC is located on the x axis at
74E. An empty hollow metal sphere has a potential of +400 V
x = 3.0 m. Calculate the work done in moving the point charge to Elec
the origin. with respect to ground (defined to be at V = 0) and has a charge
of 5.0 X 10-9 C. Find the electric potential at the center of the 83. I
66P. Two tiny metal spheres A and B of mass mA = 5.00 g and sphere. q2 =
mB = 10.0 g have equal positive charges q = 5.00 Jl.-C. The ,
75E. A thin, conducting, spherical shell of outer radius 20 em tric p
spheres are connected by a massless nonconducting string of
has a charge of + 3.0 !LC. Sketch graphs of (a) the magnitude of
length d = 1.00 m, a distance that is much greater than the radii
the electric field E and (b) the potential V, both versus the dis·
of the spheres. (a) What is the electric potential energy of the
tance r from the center of the shell. (Set V = 0 at infinity.)
system? (b) Suppose you cut the string. At that instant, what is the
acceleration of each sphere? (c) A long time after you cut the 76E. What is the excess charge on a conducting sphere of radius
string, what is the speed of each sphere? r = 0.15 m if the potential of the sphere is 1500 V andV = a at
infinity?
67P. Two charged, parallel, flat conducting surfaces are spaced
-- 77E. Consider two widely separated conducting spheres, I and
d = 1.00 cm apart and produce a potential difference I::!. V =
2, the second having twice the diameter of the first. The smaller
625 V between them. An electron is projected from one surface
sphere initially has a positive charge q, and the larger one is
directly toward the second. What is the initial speed of the elec-
initially uncharged. You now connect the spheres with a long thin
tron if it comes to rest just at the second surface?
wire. (a) How are the final potentials VI and V2 of the spheres
68P. (a) A proton of kinetic energy 4.80 MeV travels head-on related? (b) Find the final charges ql and q2 on the spheres in
toward a lead nucleus. Assuming that the proton does not pene- terms of q. (c) What is the ratio of the final surface charge density
trate the nucleus and considering only electrostatic interactions, of sphere 1 to that of sphere 2?
calculate the smallest center-to-center separation that occurs be- 78P. The metal object shown in cross section in Fig. 25-53 isa
tween the proton and the nucleus when the proton momentarily figure of revolution about a horizontal axis. Suppose that it is
stops. (b) If the proton is replaced with an alpha particle of the charged negatively, and sketch a few equipotential surfaces and
same initial kinetic energy, how would the smallest center-to- electric field lines. Use physical reasoning rather than mathemati·
center separation compare with that in (a)?
cal analysis.
69P. A particle of mass m, positive charge q, and initial kinetic
energy K is projected (from a large distance) toward a heavy
nucleus of charge Q that is fixed in place. Assuming that the
particle approaches head-on, how close to the center of the nu-
cleus is the particle when it comes momentarily to rest?

70P. A thin, conducting, spherical shell of radius R is mounted
on an isolating support and charged to a potential of - V. An
electron is then fired from point P at a distance r from the center
of the shell (r Y R) with an initial speed vo, directed radially
inward. What value of Vois needed for the electron to just reach
the shell before reversing direction?
FIGURE 25-53 Problem 78.
79P. (a) If Earth had a net surface charge density of 1.0 electron
per square meter (a very artificial assumption), what would its
potential be? (Set V = 0 at infinity.) (b) What would be the e1ec·
tric field due to Earth just outside its surface?